EU-North Macedonia relations
North Macedonia – along with other Western Balkans partners – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in 2003. Its Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the first in the region, is in force since 2004. It applied for EU membership in March 2004 and the Council decided in December 2005 to grant the country candidate status.
In March 2020, the European Council endorsed the General Affairs Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia.
In July 2020 the draft negotiating framework was presented to the Member States. In July 2022, the Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations was held with North Macedonia. The Commission started the screening process, which was completed in December 2023.
In July 2023, the European Commission submitted to the Council the screening report on Cluster 1 – Fundamentals, including benchmarks for opening accession negotiations on this cluster.
Key milestones
- October 2025North Macedonia receives funds under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans.
- October 2025The Commission announces the launch of the AI Factories in several Member States and partner countries, including an Antenna in North Macedonia.
- July 2025North Macedonia receives funds under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans.
- March 2025North Macedonia joins the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) schemes.
- October 2024European Commission approves North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda.
- December 2023Completion of the screening process.
- September 2023First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 6 – “External Relations”
- September 2023Final bilateral screening meeting on cluster 4 – “Green agenda, sustainable connectivity”
- July 2023First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 5 – Resources, agriculture, cohesion
- July 2023Submission of the screening report on Cluster 1 – “Fundamentals” to the Council
- June 2023Final bilateral screening meeting on cluster 3 – “Competitiveness, inclusive growth”
- March 2023First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 4 - “Green agenda, sustainable connectivity”
- March 2023Final bilateral screening meeting on cluster 2 “Internal market”
- December 2022Final bilateral screening meeting on cluster 1 “fundamentals”
- October 2022First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 3 – Competitiveness and inclusive growth
- October 2022First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 2 – Internal market
- September 2022First explanatory screening meeting on Cluster 1 – Fundamentals
- July 2022Inaugural meeting of the screening process
- July 2022Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations with North Macedonia.
- October 2020Commission adopts an Economic & Investment Plan to support and bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU.
- July 2020Presentation of the draft negotiating framework to the Member States.
- March 2020The European Council endorsed the decision to open accession negotiations.
- March 2020The Council decides to open accession negotiations.
- February 2020Revised methodology
Revised methodology, presented by the Commission, to drive forward the enlargement process with a stronger political steer and in a more credible, predictable, dynamic way.
- February 2019The EU is notified about the entry into force of the Prespa agreement.
- May 2019The European Commission recommends opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia
- June 2018The Council sets out the path towards opening accession negotiations.
- April 2018The Commission repeats its unconditional recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- November 2015The Commission stated that it was prepared to extend its recommendation to open accession negotiations.
The Commission stated that it was prepared to extend its recommendation to open accession negotiations provided the implementation of the June/July agreement.
- July 2015Pržino agreement, facilitated by Commissioner Hahn and three Members of the European Parliament, reached between the four main political leaders.
- June 2015The Commission presented "Urgent Reform Priorities" to address the underlying rule of law issues.
- October 2014Sixth recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- October 2013Fifth recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- October 2012Fourth recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- March 2012European Commission launches a High Level Accession Dialogue with Skopje.
- October 2011Third recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- November 2010Second recommendation to open accession negotiations.
- December 2009Citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia travel visa free to the Schengen area.
- October 2009Commission recommends opening of accession negotiations.
- July 2009Commission proposes to grant visa liberalisation to the country.
- March 2008Commission adopts Communication on the Western Balkans identifying benchmarks for next stage in accession process.
- February 2008Council adopts Accession Partnership for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, updating the 2006 European Partnership.
- January 2008Visa facilitation and readmission agreements enter into force.
- January 2006Council adopts European Partnership.
- December 2005Council grants candidate status to the country.
- November 2005Commission gives favourable opinion on the application of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for membership in the European Union.
- February 2005The country replies to EU questionnaire.
- September 20041st meeting of Stabilisation and Association Council between EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
- May 2004Council asks Commission to give opinion on application.
- April 2004Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) enters into force.
- March 2004Application for EU membership.
- June 2001Agreement on trade and trade-related matters enters into force.
- April 2001Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) is signed.
Key documents
- General publications
- Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
- General publications
- Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
- General publications
- Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
- General publications
- Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
- General publications
- Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
